Best sky+ alternative

Jez · 18 Mar 2006 at 20:17

I currently pay sky £28pm, that is £18pm for 4 mixes (all the channels i want) and £10pm extra for the sky+ functionality.

Firstly has anyone heard of any plans for sky to ditch the extra £10pm payable for sky+ if you do not have premium channels? I heard a rumor a while back that with the launch of HD, normal sky+ would revert to being "free"??

If not then i may well ditch the sky+ and go for a freeview PVR system, £18pm for sky+ i could put up with, but frankly i do not use it enough to warrant nearly £30.

So it begs the question, what are the alternatives? Freeview PVR boxes would be the most convinient i guess, but i could go for a PC based system? What would you do? I have stacks of PC hardware so pc wise all i would need is the necessary freeview decoder/recorder card

Al Vallario · 18 Mar 2006 at 21:19

If you live in a Telewest area you could go for the new Telewest TV Drive service, which offers the same functionality as Sky+ but with HD content too. If my calculations are correct, you could get the "Supreme Pack" and TV Drive (£10/month on top) for £27.50/month, but the order form doesn't let you select a TV package without a phone package aswell :confused:

If you're thinking of setting up a HTPC I'd highly recommend watching the Systm MythTV video walkthrough. All you'd need to do is throw some hardware together, buy a DVB tuner card (or two, or maybe even three!), download KnoppMyth (open source) and you've got a PVR!

Jez · 19 Mar 2006 at 15:03

I live absolutely miles from anywhere cabled so thats out

Will have a look at that link

Attu · 19 Mar 2006 at 16:24

I heard that when SkyHD comes out they will make Sky+ the standard sky instalation and drop the £10 subs but ive also seen it mentioned in some SkyHD blurb that you have to pay the HD subs of £10 and as Sky+ is now you drop the Sky+ subs if you have 2 premium packages, so maybe they are keeping the Sky+ subs.
If i were you id wait another month or 2 and see what happens when SkyHD comes out.

GSXRMovistar · 19 Mar 2006 at 17:03

First off give Sky a call and tell them that you want to leave, they will probably try an offer you some good deals to stay.

I cancelled Sky (£22 a month Package) and they managed to offer me Sky+ for £25 a month all in (no movies or sports) and the SKY+ 160Gb box for £65 including install.

But i cancelled anyway and opted for a Humax 9200T Freeview box, dual tuner, 160Gb storage for £200. I just make sure I record anything that takes my interest and this ensures I always have something to watch.

Had it a couple of months now and it's been great, don't miss Sky at all and it works out a hell of a lot cheaper.

thepharcyde · 20 Mar 2006 at 13:24

a HTPC computer, running MCE 2005, the best thing, you can edit the channel line up and delete the channels you dont have as well as all the shopping channels. record to the hd etc excellent when it works.